2017 A levels in Mathematics and Further Mathematics

2017 A levels in Mathematics and Further Mathematics: Opportunities and Risks Kevin Lord FMSP Programme Leader kevin. lord@mei. org. uk

Overview § The Further Mathematics Support Programme § Current state of A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics participation and provision in schools § Entry requirements for higher education § Changes to A level –structure, content and funding § Risks and opportunities § Action for university mathematics departments

What are the FMSP’s aims? § Increase participation in AS/A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, particularly that of girls § Increase capacity within schools and colleges to provide high quality mathematics teaching These aims support the principle that all state-educated students throughout England should be able to access the mathematics education they need to fulfil their aspirations

Overview of the FMSP’s work § Promotion of mathematics and the benefits of taking the mathematics A levels § Professional development to improve expertise in teaching 14 -19 mathematics § Development of online provision to help ensure access to high-quality resources and tuition for A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics

Access to Higher Education § Liaison with higher education to encourage clearer signaling of the importance of studying AS/A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics to support the transition to undergraduate study across a range of subjects § Resources and support for students’ mathematical preparation and transition to degree level study § Communicating to schools/colleges and students the mathematics requirements for entry to a range of degree courses and careers

A and AS level Mathematics entries - England 180000 160000 140000 Entries 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 A level Mathematics AS level Mathematics Source: JCQ

A and AS level Further Mathematics entries - England 30000 25000 Entries 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 A level Further Mathematics AS level Further Mathematics Source: JCQ

Provision in state-funded institutions

Popularity of Mathematics

HE entry requirements - Mathematics G 100 course entry requirements AS/A level Further Mathematics No. % Required 6 9% Preferred/recommended 19 28% Mentioned in optional subjects 5 7% Not mentioned 37 55% Total number of courses 67 FMSP, December 2014

Undergraduate Entries - G 1 Mathematics University Academic Year 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 Total number of students accepted to G 1 Percentage of those accepted Total number of Mathematics courses to G 1 Mathematics courses students accepted who studied A levels that who studied onto degree course studied A Level (A 2) Further Mathematics 5041 5349 5861 6403 6916 7276 7585 7311 7699 1503 1756 1935 2250 2454 2855 3006 3832 35. 6% 39. 3% 40. 2% 40. 3% 42. 9% 47. 5% 50. 1% 59. 6% Source: UCAS

Liaison meetings with HE in 2015 -16 § 99 courses contacted based on entry information § 18 courses have indicated they will provide more encouragement for Further Mathematics § 4 courses to require or encourage Mathematics. § Briefings for HE

Helpful university examples § "AS or A 2 Further Mathematics are not essential but will be helpful to our students. We are therefore generally more flexible with applicants who have studied Further Mathematics. ” § “We encourage you to take A-level Further Mathematics if it is available to you, and we collaborate with the Further Mathematics Support Programme (link is external). Whilst we don't give an explicitly lower offer for people taking Further Mathematics, we will take it into account if you narrowly miss our offer. ” § “Applicants offering an A-Level in Further Mathematics or another numerate subject (Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Computing), ASLevel Further Maths at grade A, Edexcel AEA (Advanced Extension Award), or Cambridge STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper) will usually be given the lower offer (AAB). ”

Changes to A level – AS levels § All A levels will be linear – i. e. no modules § Some new A levels started in September 2015, Mathematics starts from September 2017 § AS is a separate examination which does not count towards the A level § AS is the first half of A level, but UCAS tariff for AS levels is 40% of A level tariff (not 50%) § Schools/colleges beginning to stop offering AS levels § Students take only 3 A levels from year 12 rather than starting with 4 AS levels, reducing to 3 A 2 s

2017 A level Maths and Further Maths § New specifications start in September 2017 § First examinations in Summer 2019 § Builds on the new GCSE Mathematics which started in September 2015 § Draft specifications submitted on 9 th June 2016

2017 A level Mathematics § 100% content specified by DFE – same for all boards § All students will have studied the same content – Pure Mathematical techniques, (66%) – Mechanics (17%) and – Statistics (17%) § Greater emphasis on – Reasoning and Proof – Problem-Solving and Modelling § Use of technology must permeate the study of A level Mathematics

2017 A level Further Mathematics § 50% content specified, all pure § Awarding bodies can decide on the other 50% so they may (or may not) be significant differences § There may be some element of choice for schools/students § Further Mathematics should still be able to be taught alongside Mathematics Awarding bodies choose, may be pure or applied Compulsory content, all pure.

2017 AS level Further Mathematics § Designed to be a separate, valuable qualification § AS Further Mathematics must be at least 30% Pure Mathematics with some compulsory content: – Matrices – Complex Numbers A level FM Awarding bodies choose, may be pure or applied Compulsory content, all pure. AS level FM Optional board prescribed content Compulsory content

§ Updated guide to pre-university maths courses is being published by Sigma soon § New A level Specifications for maths available from 9 th June (unaccredited)

Changes to A level – Funding § 2015 - new funding arrangements for post-16 students § c. £ 4000 per year for a student following a full-time course § Funding is for a programme equivalent to just over 3 A levels, instead of per subject taken § 10% uplift available for students following a large programme (equivalent to 4 A levels) but only if they achieve A*- B in all subjects § Schools/colleges reducing number of A levels offered § Minimum class size for viable groups is increasing § Further Maths often a 4 th option and low numbers

Opportunities § Currently supply of A level Further Mathematics students (c. 15 000) is meeting demand from HE STEM courses § Access to provision for Further Mathematics in schools, colleges and through FMSP has never been better § New A level courses starting in 2017 § Changes to AS levels and funding may result in reduction in A level subject choice and offer to students § Studying 3 A levels leaves room in the timetable for enrichment such as EPQs, Core Maths, and AS/A level Further Mathematics

Action for university maths departments § Provide a clear, strong message about the importance/usefulness of studying AS or A level Further Mathematics – Evidence to support teachers in maintaining provision – Evidence to persuade students to choose the course § Provide a clear, strong message to government about the need to support provision for Further Mathematics, in particular AS level

The Further Mathematics Support Programme The FMSP aims is to increase the uptake of AS and A level Further Mathematics to ensure that more students reach their potential in mathematics. The FMSP website has further advice on studying A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, enrichment resources for students and information on applying to university. To find out more visit www. furthermaths. org. uk